With his father Ned Beatty in tow, you'd be inclined to think Thomas Beatty could have called in a few more favours for his directorial debut, but it looks like the writer-director is keeping things small-scale with the microbudget, dark comedy "Teddy Bears," co-helmed by his wife, photographer Rebecca Fishman.

With his father Ned Beatty in tow, you'd be inclined to think Thomas Beatty could have called in a few more favours for his directorial debut, but it looks like the writer-director is keeping things small-scale with the microbudget, dark comedy "Teddy Bears," co-helmed by his wife, photographer Rebecca Fishman.

That said, it surely didn't hurt for him to have the recognizable last name as a talented ensemble cast has now been rounded up for the project. David Krumholtz, Melanie Lynskey,Gillian Jacobs, Jason Ritter (son of John), Zachary Knighton ("Happy Endings"), Ahna O'Reilly ("The Help") and father Ned will all star in the film, which follows "three couples who head to the desert to help a friend heal after the death of his mother. They would do anything for him -- except for the one thing he wants."

While the object of that friend's desire is kept secret in the trade, Beatty's own blog details the story further, noting that the couples have to "navigate the absurd and troubling request of their grieving close friend: he wants to have sex with all of them at the same time." Certainly makes things a bit more interesting, right?

Perhaps most intriguing is the fact the story is based on the real-life experiences of Beatty and Fishman in the year leading up to their marriage. Lensing will begin next week on location at Joshua Tree, California. [Variety]